NHL Prospect Watch – Winnipeg Jets
In the lead-up to the 2023-24 NHL season, we’re taking a look at the current and former WHL talent in each NHL Club’s prospect pool. In this 32-part series, we’ll highlight the WHL players signed to an NHL contract or recently drafted, 25 years of age or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played. Join us for a brand-new season of NHL Prospect Watch!
We conclude our series with the prospect pool of the Winnipeg Jets.
Tyrel Bauer
Former Seattle Thunderbirds captain Tyrel Bauer enters the 2023-24 season having spent his rookie professional campaign of 2022-23 with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. Bauer, who hails from Cochrane, Alta., scored twice, totalling seven points in 47 games for Manitoba. A sixth-round selection by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2020 NHL Draft, Bauer spent his entire WHL career with Seattle, helping the Thunderbirds win a Western Conference Championship in his final season of 2021-22. Overall, the rugged defenceman appeared in 181 regular season games as a Thunderbird, totalling 48 points (12G-36A).
🚨 SOMEONE GRAB THE PUCK!
TYREL BAUER WITH HIS FIRST PRO GOAL!! pic.twitter.com/AnmXnUul1H
— Manitoba Moose (@ManitobaMoose) December 16, 2022
Brad Lambert
A first-round selection by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL Draft, forward Brad Lambert returns to the professional game after winning a WHL Championship with the Seattle Thunderbirds this past spring. Lambert, from Lahti, Finland, put up 38 points in 26 games with the Thunderbirds during the regular season, then scored six times, totalling 26 points during the WHL Playoffs as Seattle claimed its second WHL Championship in franchise history. Internationally, Lambert represented Finland at his third IIHF World Junior Championship in 2023 as well. He begins the 2023-24 season with 14 AHL games under his belt with the Manitoba Moose.
Everyone say Good Morning to WHL Champion Brad Lambert 🤩 pic.twitter.com/tFZtEpIDU4
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 20, 2023
Connor Levis
A former WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, Kamloops Blazers forward Connor Levis heard his name called by the Winnipeg Jets in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Levis, from Vancouver, B.C., set career highs for the Blazers last season, scoring 27 goals and 67 points during his second full-length WHL regular season. Levis appeared in 14 playoff games, then scored once and added three helpers in four appearances at the Memorial Cup. Originally selected by Kamloops in the first round of the 2019 WHL Draft, Levis holds career totals of 53 goals and 125 points from his 161 WHL regular season games played.
The B.C. boy CONNOR LEVIS scores the first goal at the Young Stars Classic!! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/YTi6sv094a
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) September 15, 2023
Chaz Lucius
Forward Chaz Lucius was limited to just six games as a member of the Portland Winterhawks but during that span, the product of Lawrence, Kansas scored five goals and collected 15 points before suffering a season-ending injury. Lucius, selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets, joined Portland ahead of the WHL Trade Deadline in 2023 after beginning the 2022-23 season with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. Lucius also represented the United States at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring five times for the Americans in seven outings.
MAYHEM IN THE VMC!@NHLJets prospect Chaz Lucius sends the @pdxwinterhawks into the extra frame. pic.twitter.com/NTDxD77rff
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 30, 2023
Thomas Milic
The reigning WHL Goaltender of the Year and WHL Playoffs MVP, Thomas Milic signed a one-year contract with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose earlier this week after being selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Milic, from Coquitlam, B.C., won 27 of his 33 games played during the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season, while also leading the League in goals-against average (2.08) and save percentage (.928). He bettered those figures (1.95 GAA and .933 SV%) during the WHL Playoffs, posting a 16-3 record as Seattle captured the Ed Chynoweth Cup. Milic was also the gold medal-winning netminder at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, posting a .932 save percentage over six outings. Originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the third round of the 2018 WHL Draft, Milic won 60 of his 91 career WHL regular season apperances, eight by shutout, while earning a 2.35 goals-against average and .917 save percentage along the way.
Thomas. Milic. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/F05rtGjEkM
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2023
Kristian Reichel
Former Red Deer Rebels forwar Kristian Reichel put up his best offensive season at the AHL level in 2022-23, scoring nine goals and totalling 24 points for the Manitoba Moose. The Czech forward also got into two NHL contests with the Winnipeg Jets, earning one helper while also bringing his career NHL games played total to 15. The 25-year-old spent one season in the WHL with Red Deer but impressed in his lone campaign, scoring 34 goals and 57 points for the Rebels in 2017-18.
Kristian Reichel gets the @ManitobaMoose on the board first with this shorthanded marker. pic.twitter.com/cnV7gLd7J7
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 20, 2023